Iowa City Connection at North Texas

[Harry]

John Chelf made the right decision.

Heading into his final year of Division I football this fall at North Texas, the City High graduate initially enrolled at Iowa as a walk-on. After two years in the Black and Gold, the wide receiver transferred to North Texas, also as a walk-on. The journey was long, and playing time was spare. Questions of doubt entered his mind.

Until this spring.

For his performance in winter and spring workouts, including the Mean Green's spring game April 12, Chelf earned a scholarship for his final semester of college.

"Going into my fifth year, it was really do or die time," Chelf said this week. "I knew if I didn't play to my capabilities now, I would live the rest of my life knowing I didn't ever really perform how I was capable of. Being a senior and needing playmakers to step up, I focused this spring on making sure I put my best foot forward. The coaches responded well to it and gave me the scholarship."

Despite opportunities to go to a Division II program, Chelf chose the path he had always wanted to take: playing for a Division I team. So after a senior year with 44 receptions, 1,054 yards and 15 touchdowns at City High, Chelf walked on at Iowa. Two other City alumni and his best friends, A.J. Derby and Ellis Jordan, also were on the Hawkeyes' roster.

But after two years, Chelf sought a new, fresh chance in Denton, Tex. Another former Little Hawk and friend, quarterback Andrew McNulty, was on scholarship at North Texas and encouraged Chelf to possibly make the move. North Texas' coach, Dan McCarney — a City High grad, himself — was open to Chelf walking on at his program.

Read more: http://www.press-citizen.com/story/sports/college/2014/04/26/chelf-finally-finds-home-north-texas/8168585/

[Mean Green 93-98]

Great story. Hope he has a great year--we certainly need some members the receiving corps to step up, and based on Coach C's Twitter posts, Chelf has been at the forefront.